“Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ” (Matthew 22:37) Deuteronomy 6:5 adds the words “and with all your strength” to this command. In Matthew 6:33 I am told,

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

What does this look like? – this putting God first before anything that would take my attention and my affection, filling up my day, leaving no room for God.

“I am the Lord your God, . . . You shall have no other gods before (besides) Me.” (Deuteronomy 5:6-7)

Perhaps it looks like making God my first thought in the morning, rather than an afterthought at the end of my day.

“When I awake, I am still with You.” (Psalm 139:18)

It looks like making God my first choice, not my last resort.

“Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” (Psalm 84:10)

It looks like running to God for forgiveness rather than hiding from Him in shame.

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

David knew what making God a priority looked like, he described it in these words,

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2)

Today there is no shortage of things which would attract me or distract me away from what or more accurately, who, I have purposed to make my priority. Today I will pray this prayer of David’s as my own – you can make it yours, too, dear readers –

“Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever. For great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths of the grave.” (Psalm 86:11-13)

let knowing God be my only priority today and everyday, “Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You.” (Psalm 73:25)

sincerely, Grace Day